Republican Presidential Race So Far

 So far 37 of the 56 states (including five territories DC) have gone to the polls in the Republican Presidential Primaries and Mitt Romney is streaking ahead taking 18 states, DC and four territories which gives him 591 committed delegates. Rick Santorum is a strong second having carried 11 states and 202 committed delegates. Newt Gingrich is currently third having won only two states and 133 delegates. Ron Paul is trailing behind having won only one territory and a tiny 27 delegates.

At this stage in the race it seems pretty clear to most people that Mitt Romney will be the nomination and after this month he will probably be closer to it. The more liberal states of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware and Pennsylvania are the next states to go to the polls on the 24^th of April. They are likely to go Romney’s way. The exception being Pennsylvania as it is Santorum’s home state. Recently Newt Gingrich has halved his campaign staff numbers and Ron Paul seems to have largely given up. Although the race is not over yet it is hard to see how this could go anyone but Romney’s way. It is notable to point out that Romney has more committed delegates than the other three candidates combined, so even if they were to stand together, they still could not unseat Romney.

One of the big questions Republicans need to be asking themselves is which one can unseat President Obama. If they ask that question then they may as well not vote, the Republican Party is becoming unelectable for many of the swing voters. Since losing the 2008 general election the party has taken a hard, right turn and this has infuriated many ordinary people. In Wisconsin fury over stripping Unions of their rights could result in the re-call of governor Scott Walker, if voters decide to recall Walker then it will only be the third time that this has happened in American history. Across the states, Republican congresses have been passing anti-abortion laws which have struck a bad chord with many women. Some of the laws (although not all have passed) required doctors to lie to their patients and insert a probe into a woman’s vagina if they want an abortion, some people have compared this to state mandated rape.

All across America the Republican brand has been tainted and I don’t believe it can recover in time for the election. If things continue the way they are going, Obama will be president for four more years.

How the states have voted so far
Orange for Romney
Green for Santorum
Purple for Gingrich
Yellow for Paul